Oct. 6, 2013

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

COLUMBUS, Ohio â€" The Ohio University field hockey team (3-6) fell to Ohio State University (4-7) in a close 2-1 contest in Sunday’s match at Buckeye Varsity Field.

In an eventful first period, the two teams traded off goals, with three goals scored in just two minutes time. The Buckeyes led 2-1 at the end of the first, a score that would stick until the game’s final minute.

The Bobcats held close through the first period, trailing 7-6 in shots at the end of the stanza, but were unable to maintain that momentum, as Ohio State held a 13-9 edge in shots at the conclusion of the game. The 'Cats tied the Buckeyes, 7-7, in the corner battle.

“We didn’t represent ourselves like we needed to. We played pretty well at times but not consistently,” head coach Neil Macmillan said. “We need to do a better job of that if we want to be competitive against a team like Ohio State. We were a bit unfortunate with the goals we let in â€" the rest of the time we did a good job of restricting them in the offensive zone.”

Senior Jessica Jue (Vancouver, British Columbia) continued her strong offensive play, as she was responsible for the ‘Cats goal â€" her fifth score in Ohio’s last six matches. Junior Lauryl Desch (Charlottesville, Va.) tallied an assist on the goal for her fourth point of the season.

“Jessica again took advantage of a number of great opportunities for us,” Macmillan said. “She had a really skilled goal on a reverse stick backing it in â€" she did a great job pressing on the forward line and into the Ohio State zone.”

Three players each had two shots for Ohio, including freshman Franziska Schmiedel (Mulheim, Germany), senior Luli Gomez Teruel (Salta, Argentina) and sophomore Adele Sammons (Upminster, England).

Defensively, goalkeeper Brittany Walker (Elizabethtown, Pa.) played the entire match for the Bobcats, making five saves and allowing two goals in her 70 minutes of action.

The first goal of the game came 18 minutes in, as Ohio State’s Annie VonderBrink scored her first of the season to give the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead.

Jue put the Bobcats on the board just moments later, scoring off the assist by Desch at the near post.

Just as quickly as the Bobcats tied the game, OSU regained the lead in the 22nd minute as the Buckeyes’ Mona Frommhold put one past Walker, which would ultimately be the game winner.

Ohio threatened in the 26th minute, posting three shots in under two minutes, but was unable to score. Desch began the offensive run with a shot that was saved by OSU goalkeeper Sarah Lemieux. Gomez Teruel then advanced with two consecutive shots, the first one blocked and the second saved by Lemieux.

Ohio State’s Peanut Johnson threatened early in the second period, but Walker kept the Buckeyes within one for the remainder of the game, posting three saves in the second half.

Sammons posted her first shot of the game during the 46th minute, but it was blocked. She attempted again with a shot nine minutes later, this time saved by the Buckeyes’ goalkeeper.

The Bobcats attacked once more in the 55th minute, with back-to-back shots by Sammons and junior Kristine Gegas (Worthington, Ohio), but were unable to score.

With only two minutes remaining, OSU’s Nina Laudahn was awarded a penalty shot, but the attempt was saved by Walker to preserve the 2-1 final score.

Ohio returns to action with a pair of matches next weekend. The Bobcats travel to Missouri State on Oct. 11 at noon before taking on Saint Louis University Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.